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#FanExpo #FanExpoPhiladelphia2026This week on Toon'd In!, Jim Cummings welcomes Matt Hill, Samuel Vincent, and Tony Sampson for a special Ed, Edd n Eddy Reunion recorded live at Fan Expo Philadelphia! As the iconic voices of Ed, Edd (Double D), and Eddy, the trio helped bring one of Cartoon Network's most beloved and influential animated series to life. Decades after the show's debut, Ed, Edd n Eddy remains a fan-favorite cartoon celebrated for its unforgettable characters, hilarious adventures, and unique animation style.In this lively and nostalgia-filled episode—captured in front of a live convention audience—Matt, Samuel, and Tony reflect on their experiences working on the groundbreaking animated series, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from the recording booth, memories of collaborating with creator Danny Antonucci, and the creative process behind developing three of animation's most recognizable characters. They discuss how the chemistry between the cast helped shape the show's success and what it was like growing up alongside a series that became a cultural phenomenon.Jim and his guests also explore the lasting legacy of Ed, Edd n Eddy, the passionate fan community that continues to embrace the show, and the experience of reconnecting with audiences through conventions and reunion appearances. Along the way, they share favorite episodes, memorable moments from the cul-de-sac, and stories about the show's enduring popularity across multiple generations of cartoon fans.
The BBC puts Doctor Who out to tender - no Christmas special, no Russell T Davies, no Bad Wolf. Broadcast's Insight Editor Rebecca Cooney on what's really been going on behind the TARDIS doors.Also on the show: how do you explain the world to an eight-year-old? Vanessa Harriss, editor of The Week Junior, on the healthy business of children's media - and why kids still want it in print.All that plus: ITV, Channel 4 and Sky tell the BBC to stop paddling up Schitt's Creek... Rhodri Talfan Davies lands the deputy DG job... and, in The Audio Network Media Quiz, everybody's moving house.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Ben selected the music to for this episode and he and the team can do it for you too at audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this week:BBC puts Doctor Who out to tender; Christmas special scrappedITV, C4 and Sky call for BBC to cut back on international acquisitionsRhodri Talfan Davies named BBC Deputy Director-GeneralGoalhanger tops Sunday Times fastest-growing companies listTony Livesey to step back from BBC radio showMehdi Hasan launches Zeteo in the UKOnly Murders in the Building moves to London for series sixKarl Warner to relocate to LA for BBC Studios global creator roleMiss Me? leaves the BBC to go commercial Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The CMA hands publishers a world-first opt-out from Google's AI Overviews; Alex Hudson tells us whether this is the breakthrough it looks like.Also on the show: Nutopia's Simon Willgoss on making the first major World War II documentary series since The World At War 50 years ago - twenty episodes, one war, one very famous narrator.All that plus: Jon Petrie exits the BBC for Hat Trick, Netflix gets careful about contributor welfare... and The Audio Network Media Quiz spots the elephant in the room.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex selects the music to score each episode and she and the team can do it for you too at https://audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this week:UK publishers win opt-out from Google AI OverviewsNetflix UK on Love Is Blind welfare and new commissioning prioritiesJon Petrie exits BBC Comedy for Hat TrickYouTube overtakes Netflix in average daily viewing around the worldWhite House Correspondents' Dinner rescheduledKSI leaves the Sidemen after 13 yearsLisa Nandy admits government got it wrong on AI copyrightBauer Media Audio UK named Campaign Top 5 Best Places to WorkOpenAI confirms no ad revenue share with publishers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We're live at The Podcast Show to tackle the biggest question facing the sector: should podcasters pivot to video - and if so, how do you do it without repeating the mistakes of Fleet St? Charlotte Tobitt of Press Gazette, Guardian founder Jim Waterson and BBC Studios Audio's Thomas Curry were all there the first time around, and they're here to warn of what might be.Also on the show: we're at the ARIA awards at the Roundhouse, where Trevor Nelson, Elizabeth Day, BBC Sounds and Mishal Husain are among the night's big winners.All that plus: in The Audio Network Media Quiz, we play The Weakest Podcast Link.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex selects the music to score each episode and he and the team can do it for you too at https://audionetwork.comOur Arias coverage is brought to you in partnership with radio experts: the audio agency specialists. Learn more at https://radioexperts.co.uk/Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's our first episode dedicated to paediatric ophthalmology - and we're joined by one of the world's leading experts - Professor Ramesh Kekunnaya, Head of Paediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus and Neuro-ophthalmology at the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, author of more than 250 publications, and one of the founding members of the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.This episode is packed with practical insights and the hottest topics shaping paediatric eye care today. We dive into:• How Ramesh decides whether - and when - to implant an IOL in a child's eye• The big question in infant cataract surgery: is it actually safer to wait longer?• What the WSPOS Myopia Consensus means for clinicians and parents navigating treatment options• How telemedicine and AI are transforming the screening and treatment of ROPAnd we also go back to fundamentals - with Ramesh sharing his top tips for examining infants and young children, plus an inside look at how the LV Prasad network delivers eye care to an astonishing 30 million people.And for subscribers, the Bonus episode goes even deeper:• Emerging myopia treatments - from blue-light therapy delivered with virtual reality headsets to competing defocus technologies.• A customised approach to treatment: where to start, what to combine, and when to escalate• The role of peripheral refraction - and how to actually measure it• Red flags for syndromic and retinal dystrophy-related myopiaTo access all Bonus episodes and our monthly newsletters, head to Eyes on Tomorrow on SubstackSpecial thanks to Topcon Healthcare and Théa UK for supporting the podcast - and to Matt Hill and the Rethink Audio team for bringing it all together. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe
Is traditional journalism losing the battle for attention - or are individual journalists actually winning it? Dino Sofos, founder of Persephonica, helped build the shows from BBC's Newscast to Global's The News Agents has some thoughts.Also on the show: ITN CEO Rachel Corp steps down immediately - and her replacement is the man who had just quit to take another job. Broadcast Magazine's Heather Fallon on the shock at the heart of Britain's biggest commercial news operation.All that plus: the Strictly hosting race produces a bombshell reveal, Tim Burrowes of Mumbrella on the Kyle and Jackie O fallout, Australian media, and what the B2B publishing world is talking about this week.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex selects the music to score each episode and she can do it for you too at audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this week:Broadcasters must react to threat from creator journalism - Deborah TurnessProlific finance journalists facing questions over identitiesITN CEO Rachel Corp steps down immediatelyZoe Ball confirms she won't be hosting Strictly Come DancingOfcom to investigate GB NewsOsman takes The Golden ElevatorsBig Break returning to BBC daytimeBBC confirms Radio 4 Long Wave switch-off dateNetflix reveals $135bn content spend over past decadeBBC staff fear meagre pay rise after bosses forgo own increase Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this Cloak & Dagger Correspondences, Thane Riddle has a ~3 hour long discussion with co-founder/CEO of Start 9, Matt Hill. Herein, we learn about Start9, the company and the mission, as well as Matt Hill, the father, coder, self-liberator…and after you put in the time listening, you'll have a much… The post Cloak & Dagger Correspondences #7: Securing The Sovereign Individual with Matt Hill (CEO/Co-Founder Start9) appeared first on The Vonu Podcast.
As the greats of the press descend on London for the Truth Tellers annual conference, Politico's Allison Hoffman talks to The Media Club about SLAPPS and the other obstacles to getting a story out there.Also on the show: broadcaster - and now formats geek - Richard Bacon on his new podcast, Why Are You More Successful Than Me? A question, of course, we will also be asking.All that plus: a celebrated sports exec bids farewell to Channel 4 - and, in The Audio Network Media Quiz, we reveal some major plot twists.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Ben selected the music to score this edition and he and the team can do it for you too at https://audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this weekWall St Journal warns of waning press freedomMill Media's legal threatBBC News hit hardest by new cuts C4's head of sport moves to Whisper Letterman On Future Of Late Nighthttps://deadline.com/2026/05/dept-q-netflix-left-bank-training-programme-1236877887/Acast makes first profit evsName That Tune is BACKThe Epstein Files are BACKCelebrity Traitors is BACK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Matt Hill joins us to discuss Start9, StartOS 0.4.0, and building a fully MIT FOSS stack for freedom computing. We chat bitcoin as the first killer app for self hosting, why AI agents are accelerating the need, and the privacy trap of “local” AI tools that still send your files to cloud servers. We go deep on StartOS 0.4.0: easier app packaging, more reliable self hosting, Tor, VPN, Start Tunnel, clearnet tradeoffs, and replacing big tech with open source services at home. We wrap with Server One hardware, their upcoming RISC-V router, FCC Wi-Fi weirdness, and a tease of self hosted open source home security cameras.Start9: https://start9.com StartOS 0.4 Update Guide: https://docs.start9.com Start9 Router Presale: https://router.start9.comStart9 on X: https://x.com/start9labsEPISODE: 201 BLOCK: 948049 PRICE: 1225 sats per dollarmore info on the show: https://citadeldispatch.com learn more about me: https://odell.xyz monitor the situation: https://citadelwire.comten31: https://ten31.xyzopensats: https://opensats.org
200 companies pitched for the BBC and NBC's next global format - and the winner is a partnership between Expectation and Plegazoid. CMG Productions' Claire McArdle, making her debut today, on what it takes to design something that can travel.Also on the show: Sky News is remaking itself as a premium, subscription-first newsroom by 2030. Gold Wala's Faraz Osman on whether that's a strategy or a euphemism.All that plus: The Ankler leaves Substack. Patreon launches Quips. iHeartMedia and SiriusXM in merger talks. And The Audio Network Media Quiz - three stories that all end with something unexpected.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Ben selected the music to score this game and he and the team can do it for you too, at audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this week:Expectation and Plegazoid win BBC-NBCU format tenderSky News unveils premium video-first strategyThe Ankler leaves Substack for new platformPatreon launches Quips and discovery networkiHeartMedia and SiriusXM in merger talksBarclay Brothers settle with HSBCSophie Jones named new RTS CEOMarvellous Miniature Workshop renewed for 20 episodesTrump claims BBC used AI in Jan 6 editAllison Pearson cleared to sue Essex Police Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Matt Hill from The Floozies joins the podcast breaking down the live-looping workflows that keep their sets flexible and more. We get into fun show stories, building performance-ready rigs (including multi-Serum setups), mapping + record-arm shortcuts, and the mixing/mastering tools that save time—like Ozone, referencing, and other “work smarter” tech.Brothers Matt and Mark Hill are the sonic visionaries behind electronic-funk powerhouse The Floozies. Known for sold-out shows nationwide (including their annual hometown Funk Street Festival), they've lit up major festivals like Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, High Sierra, Summer Camp, Wakarusa, Camp Bisco, Summerset, and Bumbershoot—plus headlining Red Rocks. Their formidable sound continues to get love from coast to coast.Follow The Floozies Below:http://flooziesduo.comhttps://www.youtube.com/user/FlooziesDuohttp://instagram.com/flooziesduoGrab limited-edition Producer Merch & save 10% with the code "podcast":https://www.abletonpodcast.com/merchJoin the newsletter to get free downloads, early episode access, and upcoming events:https://www.abletonpodcast.com/newsletter
YouTube is officially an audio platform. Karin Robinson, Senior Director of Strategy at Edelman, on whether we all need to open our eyes.Also on the show: as the Warner Brothers deal is signed off by the shareholders... STV Studios CEO David Mortimer on mergers, acquisitions and more in the TV sector. All that plus: Channel 4 launches a root-and-branch review... and there's The Audio Network Media Quiz, where we test our guests' grasp of the week's news... by dropping some big names.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Ben selects the music to score each episode and he and the team can do it for you too at audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this week:YouTube and SiriusXM partner on audio advertisingSounds Profitable Audio Primes 2026 reportChannel 4 launches strategic review under Priya DograChannel 4: runners and riders to replace Ian KatzSky News launches paywalled contentStandard website now run by IndependentOnion to lease InfowarsBBC Buys In Traitors IndiaRichard Bacon Interviews More Successful PeopleJournalist On The Hook For £14k After Investigation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ian Katz leaves Channel 4, and the BBC has announced up to 2,000 job cuts. Broadcast Magazine's Rebecca Cooney on a big week in TV.Also on the show: it's a rare podcast to TV journey - except that the podcast was never finished. TV director Simon Draper joins us to talk about his new documentary, and what it says about the jobs crisis still facing the TV industry.All that plus: Gary Neville buys 'those bloody YouTubers'... Trump's libel campaign runs aground... and in the Audio Network Media Quiz, we rise above the politics.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex selects the music for us each episode - and this week, her team's music features in Simon's documentary too. Find out more at: audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios. For 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at: podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at: themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this week:Ian Katz leaves Channel 4 After 9 YearsBBC announces latest round of cuts The BBC has launched it's first YouTube docsGary Neville's buys 'those bloody YouTubers'Trump's Libel cases fall apartTelegraph takeover clearedASA rules on Lidl and Iceland junk food ads SNL UK announces new guest hostsBoris Johnson heading to Ukraine for 5Scott Mills' replacement to be a wildcard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"We are trying to make it possible for people to use computers as simple of a statement as this: use computers, without intermediaries and custodians. The more they do, the more the lines will diverge. Until there's a chasm between the centralised model and the decentralised model with a clear line between them. And we will force either a reconciliation at the natural, technical level, let the best product in the market win, or we will force the hand of the authoritarians to say that our model is illegal. And then we have a different reconciliatory approach. Which is, okay, it's revolution time." ~ Matt Hill Big tech platforms have spent years trapping us behind their gates. And honestly, I am sick of it. The "cloud" is just someone else's computer, and companies are skimming our data at every single turn. CEO of Start9, Matt Hill, is my guest today, and is actually doing something about it. We sat down to talk about how bad the institutional theft of our privacy has gotten, and why building your own digital escape hatch is no longer just for hardcore nerds. Matt brought the fire in this one. He walks me through the absolute beast that is StartOS 0.4.0 -- the OS they spent the last three years rebuilding from absolute scratch. He also gave us the rundown on their upcoming StartWRT router, and breaks down how they finally made complex networking feel like putting together simple Ikea furniture. But the conversation goes way deeper than just hardware and updates. We get into the existential threat of AI, what happens when people get automated away, and why you desperately need to run your agents locally. Matt sees the current systems sinking like the Titanic, and we spend a lot of time trying to figure out exactly how to scramble for the higher decks. If you have been procrastinating on taking control of your own computing, this conversation will give you the push you need. Chapters (00:00:00) - The divergence of centralized and decentralized models(00:06:34) - Rebuilding StartOS and extending development timelines(00:10:05) - Introducing StartWRT and true open-source routing(00:32:18) - The danger of centralized cloud computing infrastructure(00:44:06) - AI advancement and the loss of human purpose(01:06:14) - Unchecked inflation theft negating time-saving technology(01:18:09) - Developing essential digital defense systems to resist tyranny(01:28:56) - A total code rebuild for ultimate network stack control(01:46:36) - Automating server management with the local StartBot AI(01:57:24) - Packaging custom open-source software on the fly(02:08:40) - Simplifying network isolation with StartWRT security profiles(02:24:35) - Chaining outbound VPNs for complete internet traffic privacy(02:37:48) - Exposing home services safely using virtual private routers Guest Links Matt on X (Link: https://twitter.com/_MattHill_) Start9's Website (Link: https://start9.com/) Affiliate Links Become sovereign, hold your keys, be censorship resistant with the Bitbox hardware wallet. Get 5% off everything in the store with code GUY (Link: https://bitbox.swiss/) Get 10% off the COLDCARD with code BITCOINAUDIBLE (Link: https://bitcoinaudible.com/coldcard) Get 10% off the best Bitcoin board game in the world, HODLUP! Or any of the other great games from The Free Market Kids! Use code GUY10 at checkout for 10% off your cart! (Li... Chapters (00:00:00) - The divergence of centralized and decentralized models(00:06:34) - Rebuilding StartOS and extending development timelines(00:10:05) - Introducing StartWRT and true open-source routing(00:32:18) - The danger of centralized cloud computing infrastructure(00:44:06) - AI advancement and the loss of human purpose(01:06:14) - Unchecked inflation theft negating time-saving technology(01:18:09) - Developing essential digital defense systems to resist tyranny(01:28:56) - A total code rebuild for ultimate network stack control(01:46:36) - Automating server management with the local StartBot AI(01:57:24) - Packaging custom open-source software on the fly(02:08:40) - Simplifying network isolation with StartWRT security profiles(02:24:35) - Chaining outbound VPNs for complete internet traffic privacy(02:37:48) - Exposing home services safely using virtual private routers
"We are trying to make it possible for people to use computers as simple of a statement as this: use computers, without intermediaries and custodians. The more they do, the more the lines will diverge. Until there's a chasm between the centralised model and the decentralised model with a clear line between them. And we will force either a reconciliation at the natural, technical level, let the best product in the market win, or we will force the hand of the authoritarians to say that our model is illegal. And then we have a different reconciliatory approach. Which is, okay, it's revolution time." ~ Matt Hill Big tech platforms have spent years trapping us behind their gates. And honestly, I am sick of it. The "cloud" is just someone else's computer, and companies are skimming our data at every single turn. CEO of Start9, Matt Hill, is my guest today, and is actually doing something about it. We sat down to talk about how bad the institutional theft of our privacy has gotten, and why building your own digital escape hatch is no longer just for hardcore nerds. Matt brought the fire in this one. He walks me through the absolute beast that is StartOS 0.4.0 -- the OS they spent the last three years rebuilding from absolute scratch. He also gave us the rundown on their upcoming StartWRT router, and breaks down how they finally made complex networking feel like putting together simple Ikea furniture. But the conversation goes way deeper than just hardware and updates. We get into the existential threat of AI, what happens when people get automated away, and why you desperately need to run your agents locally. Matt sees the current systems sinking like the Titanic, and we spend a lot of time trying to figure out exactly how to scramble for the higher decks. If you have been procrastinating on taking control of your own computing, this conversation will give you the push you need. Chapters (00:00:00) - The divergence of centralized and decentralized models(00:06:34) - Rebuilding StartOS and extending development timelines(00:10:05) - Introducing StartWRT and true open-source routing(00:32:18) - The danger of centralized cloud computing infrastructure(00:44:06) - AI advancement and the loss of human purpose(01:06:14) - Unchecked inflation theft negating time-saving technology(01:18:09) - Developing essential digital defense systems to resist tyranny(01:28:56) - A total code rebuild for ultimate network stack control(01:46:36) - Automating server management with the local StartBot AI(01:57:24) - Packaging custom open-source software on the fly(02:08:40) - Simplifying network isolation with StartWRT security profiles(02:24:35) - Chaining outbound VPNs for complete internet traffic privacy(02:37:48) - Exposing home services safely using virtual private routers Guest Links Matt on X (Link: https://twitter.com/_MattHill_) Start9's Website (Link: https://start9.com/) Affiliate Links Become sovereign, hold your keys, be censorship resistant with the Bitbox hardware wallet. Get 5% off everything in the store with code GUY (Link: https://bitbox.swiss/) Get 10% off the best Bitcoin board game in the world, HODLUP! Or any of the other great games from The Free Market Kids! Use code GUY10 at checkout for 10% off your cart! (Link: https://www.freemarketkids.com/collections/games-1) (Under construction) Check out the list of products and services I use and recommend on Chapters (00:00:00) - The divergence of centralized and decentralized models(00:06:34) - Rebuilding StartOS and extending development timelines(00:10:05) - Introducing StartWRT and true open-source routing(00:32:18) - The danger of centralized cloud computing infrastructure(00:44:06) - AI advancement and the loss of human purpose(01:06:14) - Unchecked inflation theft negating time-saving technology(01:18:09) - Developing essential digital defense systems to resist tyranny(01:28:56) - A total code rebuild for ultimate network stack control(01:46:36) - Automating server management with the local StartBot AI(01:57:24) - Packaging custom open-source software on the fly(02:08:40) - Simplifying network isolation with StartWRT security profiles(02:24:35) - Chaining outbound VPNs for complete internet traffic privacy(02:37:48) - Exposing home services safely using virtual private routers
Dr. Matt Hill joins Dr. Kim Hellemans to talk about his research on cannabis and the endocannabinoid system. Is there a difference between sativa and [...]
“The seed phrase has been a barrier to self-custody since day one. It's what scares normies away from keeping their own bitcoin, and it's a legitimate reason why people accept the counterparty risk of exchanges and custodial apps.” ~ Breez What if Bitcoin adoption is stuck not because of the tech but because we are obsessed with "perfect" security? I just read Juan Galt's thoughts on Breeze SDK's seedless wallets using Passkey Login, and it hit home. We have to lower the barriers for normies if we actually want them to use this. Is it finally possible to balance self-custody with real-world ease? This might be the bridge we need to move away from custodial risks toward actual everyday freedom. Check out the original article: Breez SDK Launches Passkey Login by Juan Galt (Link: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/breez-sdk-launches-passkey-login-for-seedless-bitcoin-wallets) References from the episode Check out the new Roundtable episode dropping this Thursday: it's packed with mining insights, price action updates, and corporate drama. If you're into the latest Bitcoin developments and cool upcoming projects, keep an eye out for the next two Chat episodes with Matt Hill and Svetski. If you're around, join me at Bit Block Boom in Dallas-Fort Worth from April 9th to 12th - I'll be sharing some fun stuff on what I'm currently building. (Link: https://bitblockboom.com/) Host Links Guy on Nostr (Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) Guy on X (Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) Bitcoin Audible on X (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)
SNL UK launches on Sky One as news emerges over the cost of production. Can the show defy the early critics? And what is Sky seeking to get from its extended run, beyond a repost from President Trump?Huw Edwards attacks the Channel 5 drama about his downfall - but the show pulls 1.5 million viewers anyway. Alex Hudson joins us to ask whether any sympathy is owed. Also: Matt Brittin becomes the BBC's 18th Director General - a Google man with no journalism experience. What does that mean for the corporation at the most critical moment in its history?And in Part Two, we sit down with Tom Price, Content Distribution Director at Roku, who's just launched five new ITV Studios FAST channels in the UK - and has thoughts on whether human curation is dead.All that plus: Edinburgh TV Festival picks its shortlist, Global Studios gets a new boss... and in the Audio Network Media Quiz, we visit the parallel universe where none of the news happened.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex selects the music for us to score each episode and she and her team can do it for you too at audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this week:SNL Budget a rumoured £2m/episodeHuw Edwards' attacks Channel 4 dramaDonald Trump Reposts SNL UK Cold OpenPrince Harry case faces setbackMatt Brittin becomes new BBC DG TV Festival 2027 venue shortlist announcedCraig Hunter to head up Global StudiosGhosts Tops Adaptations HitlistStephen Colbert to enter the ShiresMr Benn MovieSora closed by OpenAI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The voice behind the biggest races in Australia In late 2025, I caught up with the incredibly talented Matt Hill — the man trusted to call moments like the Melbourne Cup.We dived into: How he prepares to remember EVERY horse in the field What happens when things go wrong live on air The funniest horse names that have ever caught him off guard Some of the best race call bloopers you'll ever hearIt's a fascinating look behind the mic with one of the best in the business.Plenty of laughs and some fascinating insights along the way!Thanks so much to Matt for his time and for sharing some great stories, to Rory Noke from Podbooth for filming and editing the episode and the team at West Oak Hotel for jumping on board as a sponsor for a number of episodes.
Matt Brittin is being lined up to replace Tim Davie at the BBC - but first, a speech, and a Culture Secretary with a parting gift. Media writer Kate Bulkley and Edelman's Karin Robinson decode a week in BBC politics.Also on the show: a new Policing and Media Charter promises journalists they can pick up the phone again - and Reach takes the BBC to task over local news dominance in its charter consultation response.All that plus: the BPG Award winners, the FCC's war on independent news - and in the Audio Network Media Quiz, it is time for the Weekend Update.The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex (who is a real person) selects the music for us to score each episode and she and her team can do it for you too at https://audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this week:Lisa Nandy signals to BBC that permenant charter is within reachDG Davie's Swansong speechPolice to have dedicated contact for journalistsReach accuses BBC of damaging local newsThe FCC and its war against independent newsBBC Asks Court To Throw Out Trump Case - as Trump cries AINew Partners Announced for Apple Podcast Video productSNL UK launches this Saturday. Can it make a splash?Sony Exits The OctopodDisney takes a pass on the Buffy reboot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mentor Sessions Ep. 058: Private Credit Breakdown, US Economic Risk, Canada Collapsing, Bitcoin vs CBDC | Richard Dias$1.8 trillion in private credit — and the cracks are already showing. Richard Dias, macro strategist and co-host of the Loonie Hour, lays out exactly why the next financial shock may already be in motion.Rich breaks down how decades of easy money built a private credit empire — and why rising rates, fund gating, and hidden markdowns signal the unraveling has begun. You'll learn why this rhymes with 2008 but hits differently, what central banks will likely do when it blows, and why Bitcoin may be the only credible exit from a system built on valuation lies.
Mentor Sessions Ep. 056: Bitcoin Privacy Is At Risk (But These Fixes Are Coming) | NVK & Francis PouliotAddress reuse is silently destroying Bitcoin privacy—and most Bitcoiners have no idea how exposed they are. Coinkite founder NVK and Bull Bitcoin founder Francis Pouliot break down the most critical privacy vulnerabilities in Bitcoin today, why kidnappings tied to crypto wealth are surging across Europe (one every four days in France), and the technical solutions finally closing the gap. From silent payments and async pay join to BIP322 proof of reserves and UTXO management, this is the most comprehensive Bitcoin privacy conversation of 2025. Learn why giving your xpub to an exchange is catastrophic, how 5% pay join adoption could break chain analysis entirely, and why Nostr disposable identities may be the missing piece for private payments. If you hold Bitcoin, this episode could protect your life—not just your stack.About NVK: Founder of Coinkite, creators of the COLDCARD.
Matt Hill recounts his 21-year Army career, from growing up an Army brat, joining the Army after high school, early deployments in Bosnia and Kosovo, to the 2003 Iraq invasion and multiple tours in Afghanistan, including intense combat in Helmand's Argonaut River Valley. The episode covers life at Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, serving in the 82nd Airborne and in SFAB (Security Force Assistance Brigades), leadership as a first sergeant, the challenges of long deployments, and adjusting to civilian life while supporting family and fellow veterans. This episode is packed.
Mentor Sessions Ep. 055: Sovereign Computing, AI Singularity, & Bitcoin BIP 110 Chaos with Matt HillWhat if cloud computing's hidden flaws—privacy invasion, censorship, skyrocketing costs, and inevitable hacks—are paving the way for AI overlords, rampant authoritarianism, and existential threats to humanity? In this explosive interview, Start9 Labs founder Matt Hill exposes why sovereign computing and bitcoin are the ultimate defense against Big Tech's grip, how we're already deep in the AI singularity where "no one knows what's about to happen," and the messy Bitcoin governance battle over BIP 110 that's splitting the community. Matt warns of a "global hack bloodbath" from cloud-based AI assistants stealing your life's keys, predicts software engineering's wipeout as AI democratizes power, and reveals Start9's roadmap for personal servers, routers, and local AI inference to reclaim digital freedom. Dive into Bitcoin's spam wars, where transaction filters act as rate limiters to deter attacks without consensus nukes, and why node operators hold the trump card in this technological arms race. For Bitcoiners obsessed with decentralization, self-custody, privacy tools, node running, open-source tech, and resisting centralized control, this episode is your blueprint to sovereignty in a world of surveillance and scams.About Matt Hill:Founder of Start9 Labs, pioneering sovereign computing for over six years.X: https://x.com/_MattHill_https://start9.com/Chapters:00:00:00 Teaser & Intro Clips00:01:39 Sovereign Computing Refresher00:05:26 Four Critical Flaws of Cloud Computing00:10:09 Human Vulnerabilities in Security00:10:24 Convincing People to Adopt Sovereign Tech00:13:56 Keeping Private Keys Safe00:14:18 Emerging AI Risks & Sovereign Lens00:15:59 Entering the AI Singularity00:20:05 Personal AI Assistants & Privacy Dangers00:25:02 Cloud AI Vulnerabilities Exposed00:28:39 Start9's Sovereign Computing Roadmap00:32:02 StartOS Major Update Details00:36:24 Router OS Announcement & Features00:39:43 Advanced Networking in StartOS00:40:42 Publishing Services Easily00:41:06 Integrating AI into StartOS00:43:50 AI Endgame: Express Will, Get Results00:46:38 Sovereign vs Centralized AI Futures00:50:58 Avoiding Violence Through Decentralization00:52:32 Bitcoin Development: Users vs Creators00:58:18 BIP 110 Overview & Messy Governance00:59:20 Predicting Contentious Soft Forks01:02:01 Node Operators' Political Power01:05:03 Economic Nodes Decide Bitcoin's Fate01:11:42 Dynamic Filters Proposal Explained01:17:08 Filters as Rate Limiters01:24:18 Deterring Spam with Policy Layers01:32:44 Forking as Ultimate Deterrent⚡ POWERED by Abundant Mines: Fully managed Bitcoin mining. Learn more at https://qrco.de/bgYKPB
New Orleans witnessed its first modern Mardi Gras procession - kick-started by a group of students eager to revive the traditional masquerade, banned for six decades - on 27th February, 1827. The city's parades and revelry can trace their origins back to ancient pagan festivals and European traditions, cemented by the arrival of French-Canadian explorer (and MASSIVE ‘Fat Tuesday' fan) Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville into Louisiana in 1699. In this episode, The Retrospectors Krewe dig into the celebration's impact on revenue and refuse; consider the discriminatory practices that accompanied the festivities until the late 20th century; and get angry about the British equivalent: Pancake Day… Further Reading: • ‘Here's a Brief History of Mardi Gras and How It All Started' (The Manual, 2024): https://www.themanual.com/culture/history-of-madi-gras/ • ‘Unmasking the History of Mardi Gras in New Orleans' (The Crescent Magazine, 2022): https://tulanemagazine.com/unmasking-the-history-of-mardi-gras-in-new-orleans/ • ‘Mardi Gras New Orleans Louisiana 4K' (Dan Usher Films, 2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bv1mFl9SI4 We'll be back on Monday - unless you join CLUB RETROSPECTORS, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2026. This episode originally aired in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The 89th Academy Awards reached its grand finale on 26th February 2017, with a balls-up that instantly entered Hollywood lore. Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway stepped onstage to announce Best Picture and declared La La Land the winner. Cast and crew flooded the stage, speeches began, and the orchestra swelled - but the true winner, of course, was Moonlight. Beatty's visible hesitation, replayed endlessly since, stemmed from a simple but catastrophic mistake: he had been handed the duplicate Best Actress envelope, reading “Emma Stone - La La Land”. Unsure how to proceed, he showed the card to Dunaway; believing he was prolonging the suspense, she read out the film's title. Only as producer Jordan Horowitz was thanking his family did the truth ripple across the stage: “This is not a joke. Moonlight, you guys won Best Picture.” The error was traced to PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Brian Cullinan, who had mistakenly handed over the duplicate envelope while distracted backstage, reportedly after tweeting a photograph of Emma Stone with her Oscar. The irony was sharp: PricewaterhouseCoopers had supervised the Academy's voting process since 1935, originally engaged after controversy surrounding Bette Davis's 1934 snub, and prided itself on meticulous safeguards, including identical sets of envelopes held on either side of the stage. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly force themselves to re-watch the excruciating moment repeatedly; consider how, following two years of #OscarsSoWhite criticism, the blunder landed at a particularly sensitive moment for the Academy; and admire the way the La La Land team somehow met this emotional rollercoaster with savviness and tact… Further Reading: • ‘The Full Story Behind The 'La La Land' And 'Moonlight' Oscars Mix-Up' (Forbes, 2017): https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2017/02/27/the-full-story-behind-the-la-la-land-and-moonlight-oscars-mix-up/ • ‘How Scandal Started PwC's Oscars Vote Count, Envelope System' (TIME, 2018): https://time.com/5182902/pwc-academy-awards-oscars-snub/ • ‘Oscars Mistake: Moonlight Wins Best Picture after La La Land Mistakenly Announced' (ABC, 2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvK-g1rehpU&t=1s #Mistakes #Film #2010s #Hollywood Join
Henri Landru, known as ‘Bluebeard' to the French public, was executed by guillotine on 25th February, 1922, having murdered at least ten women he dated during the First World War. He continued to protest his innocence throughout his sensational trial - despite having drawn a detailed doodle of the oven he had used to burn his victims' bodies. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly unpick Landru's disturbing methodology; uncover why France's top defense attorney was attracted to the case; and explain what it all had to do with Rudyard Kipling… Further Reading: • ‘The Story Of Henri Landru, France's Charming Bluebeard Serial Killer' (All That's Interesting, 2017): https://allthatsinteresting.com/henri-landru • ‘Hidden for 100 years, the untold story of serial killer who preyed on lonely war widows' (Mail Online, 2019): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6511793/Hidden-100-years-untold-story-serial-killer-preyed-lonely-war-widows.html • ‘Bluebeard's 10 Honeymoons' (Anglo Allied Pictures, 1960): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrfmrucyKGo Love the show? Support us! Join
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone - now better known as St Francis of Assisi - attended Mass on 24th February, 1208, and heard the Gospel According to Matthew. From that day on, the former soldier and playboy removed his shoes, put on a rough tunic, and embarked fully into a monastic lifestyle. The process would lead him to meet the Pope and become officially recognised by the Church - but alienate him from his wealthy father, who had shelled out ransom money to return him from a battlefield prison. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly recall how Francis's father attempted to wangle him out of his inheritance; explore the really rather literal fashion in which Francesco interpreted his various visions; and explain why, at one point, Francis prayed for his miracles to STOP… Further Reading: • ‘Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi - By Donald Spoto' (Penguin, 2003): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Reluctant_Saint/K6qy9JMXuGUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=assisi&printsec=frontcover • ‘Francis of Assisi, nature's mystic' (The Washington Post, 2013): https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/francis-of-assisi-natures-mystic/2013/03/20/82619910-9166-11e2-bdea-e32ad90da239_story.html • ‘Francis: The Saint and the Pope' (Catholic News Service, 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcOU3bYmMOA Love the show? Support us! Join
Optometry historians observe 23rd February, 1305 as the day eyeglasses were perhaps first discussed in public, when friar Giordano de Rivalto stood at the pulpit and declared that he had personally met the man who invented spectacles... Except, frustratingly, he forgot to mention the bloke's name. One popular contender for the title is Salvino D'Armati, a Florentine said to have created the first glasses in 1284. The only problem? His story turned out to be a hoax—his supposed 1317 epitaph even used the word "inventor," which didn't exist yet. But the connection to the church is legit, as the earliest wearers of glasses were usually monks, because they were the nation's biggest bookworms. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly romp through a brief history of optometry, learning how ear hooks first came to the fore; explaining how Seneca used early lenses to assist his reading; and revealing Benjamin Franklin's surprising role in the world of bifocals… Further Reading: • ‘Through the looking glass' (British Library, 2019): https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2019/02/medieval-spectacles.html • ‘The history of spectacles' (College of Optometrists): https://www.college-optometrists.org/the-british-optical-association-museum/the-history-of-spectacles • ‘Why so many people need glasses now' (Vox, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAkFtka3UFw Love the show? Support us! Join
Departing from Puerto Rico with grand plans to establish a new colony, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León set out on his ill-fated second expedition to Florida on February 20th, 1521. Ponce de León's reputation as a conquistador preceded him, with tales of his brutal conquests in Hispaniola preceding his quest for new lands. Despite being ousted from power by his rival Diego Columbus, Ponce de León received a charter from King Ferdinand to explore and govern distant territories. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reveal why de León named his ‘discovery' "Florida"; explain why the ‘tree of death' played a pivotal part in his downfall; and discover where those ‘Fountain of Youth' rumours came from… Further Reading: • ‘Ponce de Leon: Florida & Fountain of Youth' (HISTORY, 2009): https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/juan-ponce-de-leon • ‘Ponce De Leon Never Searched for the Fountain of Youth' (Smithsonian Magazine, 2013): https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ponce-de-leon-never-searched-for-the-fountain-of-youth-72629888/ ‘Juan Ponce de León: Meet the Spanish explorer who discovered Florida' (10 Tampa Bay, 2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-BjLdHerRk We'll be back on Monday - unless you join CLUB RETROSPECTORS, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2026. This episode originally aired in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
When the Second Continental Congress calmly reshuffled the revolutionary army's high command on 19th February 1777, they couldn't have known they were detonating a grievance in one of their most daring and battle-tested commanders: Benedict Arnold. Arnold was certain that he had the merit and seniority to be promoted, but instead saw junior officers leapfrogging him in a decision printed for all to see. It was the first of many humiliations, arguably leading ultimately to his scandalous defection to the British. George Washington, aware of the dangers, wrote tactfully to Arnold, urging patience and suggesting the omission might yet be corrected. But Arnold's sensitivity to honour had deep roots: born into a once-prominent Rhode Island family whose fortunes declined through his father's alcoholism, his whole military career can be seen as an attempt to rehabilitate his reputation. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how history would remember this turncoat and traitor had he died instead at the Battles of Seratoga; explain how the seeds of his treachery were sewn in his marriage to Peggy Shippen; and ask whether the chip on his shoulder was truly justified… Further Reading: • ‘BENEDICT ARNOLD: HERO, TRAITOR... WHINER' (The Washington Post, 1995): https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/1995/03/08/benedict-arnold-hero-traitor-whiner/52cd2720-8a16-4ba9-ac30-0d1cb56ca5b7/ • ‘10 Surprising Facts About Benedict Arnold' (Mental Floss, 2021): https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/war/10-facts-about-benedict-arnold • ‘James Kirby Martin discusses the truths and legends of Benedict Arnold' (American Revolution Institute, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl0v__W6B94 #Scandal #1700s #Philadelphia #Revolution Love the show? Support us! Join
Sentenced to death for treason against his brother King Edward IV, George, Duke of Clarence was executed on 18th February, 1478 - and, according to legend, chose to be drowned in a butt of his favorite tipple: malmsey wine. It was apt punishment for years of plotting against his brother alongside his father-in-law, the Earl of Warwick - most notably by claiming that the King's two children were illegitimate. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reveal how close George came to actually seizing the throne; consider how Shakespeare sexed things up for ‘Richard III'; and investigate the financial outlay required if you wanted to drown yourself in a butt of malmsey wine in 2022… Further Reading: • ‘Duke of Clarence: A title through time' (The History Press): https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/duke-of-clarence-a-title-through-time/ • ‘Malmsey - Madeira Wine and Dine': https://www.madeirawineanddine.com/malmsey/ • ‘On This Day: the execution of George, Duke of Clarence' (Matt Lewis, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3teyJXLduCM Love the show? Support us! Join
Between 1908 and 1927, the Ford Motor Company sold 15,007,033 Model Ts, making the car the best-selling automobile the world had ever seen. That record came to an end on the 17th February, 1972 when the 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the production line. The car was the brainchild of Adolf Hitler who commissioned it almost immediately after her became chancellor of Germany in 1933. His plan was that the German public, irrespective of whether they were a doctor or a factory worker could buy a car for just 1,000 Reichsmarks which would have been around 31 weeks' pay for the average worker. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider whether the Beetle is more a triumph of engineering or advertising; discuss why Ford turned down the Volkswagen factory at Wolfsburg, which they could have had for free; and look at how the Führer's car came to be loved by 1960s American hippies and flower children… Further Reading: • ‘The VW Beetle: How Hitler's idea became a design icon' (BBC, 2014): https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20130830-the-nazi-car-we-came-to-love • ‘The world's best-selling cars' (Auto Express, 2022): https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars-vans/33872/worlds-best-selling-cars • ‘The History of Volkswagen, 'The People's Car' (Wall Street Journal, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhH-oWHzzvQ Love the show? Support us! Join
High-rolling merchant Nicholas Vanacker wrote out a cheque for a hefty £400 on 16th February, 1659 - one of the earliest modern cheques still preserved today. For goldsmiths-to-the-aristocracy Morris and Clayton, the innovation wasn't just about ease; it was a strategic move to reduce risk and maximize profit, even though the process involved clerks physically visiting other banks to balance accounts. Eventually, in the 1770s, bankers got smart and started meeting at the Five Bells pub in Lombard Street to settle transactions over a pint—probably the most British way to handle financial exchanges… In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly track the history of the cheque through ancient civilizations; argue over the etymology of the word (French vs. Persian); and reminisce about the glory days of the cheque - the 1990s… Further Reading: • ‘16 February 1659: the first British cheque' (MoneyWeek, 2021): https://moneyweek.com/426390/16-february-1659-the-first-british-cheque-is-issued • 'From the archives: the evolution of the cheque' (Barclays, 2016): https://home.barclays/news/2016/08/evolution-of-the-cheque/ • 'How to Write a Check' (Howcast, 2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIZWqIv_flA Love the show? Support us! Join
The Winter Olympics kicked off in Calgary on 13th February, 1988 - but the stand-out stars of the event did not qualify for a medal. Rather, the four-man Jamaican Bobsled team - who would later become (unreliably) immortalised in the Disney comedy ‘Cool Runnings' - became a testament to the intersection of determination, investment, and sporting excellence. The brainchild of Americans George Fitch and William Maloney, the concept was influenced by Jamaica's annual Pushcart Derby, and supported in part by the Tourist Board. Participants, including helicopter pilot Dudley Stokes, were recruited via the pair's connections to the Jamaican military. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly pick out fact from fiction in the Hollywood retelling of the saga; consider the legacy of Jamaica's first-time involvement with this cold-weather sport; and reveal how reggae music really did help the team make it to the competition… Further Reading: • 'I Was in The Jamaican Bobsled Team That Inspired 'Cool Runnings'' (Newsweek, 2022): https://www.newsweek.com/i-was-jamaican-bobsled-team-that-inspired-cool-runnings-1675732 • ‘Jamaican bobsleigh team: Everything you need to know about Cool Runnings, the 1988 Olympic Games, and more' (Olympics, 2021): https://olympics.com/en/news/jamaican-bobsleigh-team-1988-winter-olympics • ‘Jamaican Bobsleigh Team Debut At Calgary Winter Olympics' (Olympics, 1988): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm4DjRcmoPY We'll be back on Monday - unless you join CLUB RETROSPECTORS, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2026. This episode originally aired in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Just nine days before he was assassinated, Malcolm X visited an unlikely place on 12th February, 1965: Smethwick, the industrial suburb of Birmingham that had recently gained a grim reputation as ‘the most racist town in Britain'. Having been refused entry to France, Malcolm X had been speaking at the London School of Economics when he was invited by Avtar Singh Jouhl of the Indian Workers' Association to come to Smethwick's Marshall Street, an ordinary residential road which had become a flashpoint for informal housing segregation. White residents shouted racist abuse at him. He saw signs advertising jobs declaring “coloured people need not apply”. He went to the Blue Gates pub, where a ‘colour bar' restricted service to non-white customers. After being denied service, he remarked that Smethwick felt “worse than America”. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly revisit the toxic politics of the 1964 general election, in which the notorious “If you want a n****r for a neighbour, vote Labour” slogan had surfaced in Smethwick; explain how the Conservative candidate Peter Griffiths entered Parliament under a cloud, with Prime Minister Harold Wilson labelling him a “parliamentary leper”; and consider how, just weeks before the Race Relations Act 1965 would ban discrimination in public places, Malcolm X's visit to Smethwick took place at pivotal moment in British race relations… CONTENT WARNING: racism, historical racist terminology Further Reading: • ‘The day Malcolm X came to Smethwick 60 years ago' (BBC News, 2025): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8yy312xkxo • ‘Malcolm X in “the most racist town in Britain” (Black Country Living Museum): https://bclm.com/our-museum/blog/malcolm-x-in-the-most-racist-town-in-britain/ • ‘Malcolm X: 60 years on from special Smethwick visit' (ITV, 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eLVik05Wrs #UK #60s #Black #Racism Love the show? Support us! Join
The first women's public toilets in London opened on Bedford St on 11th February, 1852 - attempting to capitalize on the success of George Jennings' ‘monkey closets', used by over 800,000 visitors to the 1851 Great Exhibition. Unfortunately, even though the facility had been fought for by campaigning women's sanitary organizations, middle and upper class Victorian ladies were not yet prepared to pee in public - and the toilets closed a year later. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain where the phrase ‘spending a penny' (probably) comes from; reveal why ‘the urinary leash' came to describe the predicament of women's lives; and investigate why the number of 21st century public toilets continues to fall… Further Reading: • ‘Pamphlets of the Ladies Sanitary Association' (Wellcome Collection): https://wellcomecollection.org/works?query=%22Ladies+Sanitary+Association.%22 • ‘London's long-term lav affair: A history of public toilets in the capital' (BBC News, 2022): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-59785477 • ‘Victorian realities - how did they use the toilet??!' (Prior Attire, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUHeSTDv_24 Love the show? Support us! Join
Hanna-Barbera's classic cat-and-mouse cartoon series Tom and Jerry kicked off when their debut short, ‘Puss Gets The Boot', was released by MGM on 10th February, 1940. But, at that time, the stars of the film were known as ‘Jasper and Jinx'. And studio bosses very nearly canned the whole concept - until the audience feedback, and awards nominations, started rolling in… In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain why the chase-based slapstick of this hilariously violent double act empowered MGM to rival the might of Disney and Warner Bros; reveal how Tom and Jerry got their names; and explain how the racist depiction of ‘Mammy Two Shoes' evolved from an African-American caricature into an Irish one… Further Reading: • ‘The 50 MGM Films that Transformed Hollywood - Triumphs, Blockbusters, and Fiascos, By Steven Bingen' (Lyons Press, 2022): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_50_MGM_Films_that_Transformed_Hollyw/bYh0EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Puss+Gets+the+Boot&pg=PA87&printsec=frontcover • ‘The Untold Truth Of Tom And Jerry' (Looper, 2020): https://www.looper.com/196800/the-untold-truth-of-tom-and-jerry/ • ‘Puss Gets the Boot' (MGM, 1940): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiHulAQmdqI Love the show? Support us! Join
Just three months after Magic Johnson retired from basketball due to his HIV diagnosis, he made a triumphant return on 9th February, 1992 - at the NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, Florida. The sports world was divided—some players, like Michael Jordan, welcomed him back, while others, like Karl Malone, were hesitant, voicing concerns about physical contact on the court. But when Johnson stepped out, fans and fellow players alike cheered him on, and Johnson racked up 25 points, dished out nine assists, and lead the West to a dominant 153-113 victory over the East, becoming named Most Valuable Player. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discover how Johnson became the face of basketball's golden era; explain why misunderstandings and ignorance about HIV was so widespread; and uncover the career Johnson built beyond basketball... Further Reading: • ‘Magic Johnson returns for All‑Star Game | February 9, 1992' (HISTORY, 2024): https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/magic-johnson-returns-for-all-star-game • ‘Magic Johnson Talks About How He 'Needed' His Historic 1992 All-Star Game' (UpRoxx, 2016): https://uproxx.com/dimemag/magic-johnson-1992-all-star-game-hiv/ • The Announcement: Magic Johnson (NBA, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMMWLS8D4OU Love the show? Support us! Join
Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia was executed by the Bolsheviks in 1917 - yet, on 6th February, 1928, a mentally troubled Polish factory worker claiming to be her was welcomed to New York by Romanov associates. Anna Anderson's claim to be the Tsar's daughter climaxed in a 32-year legal saga, the longest in German history. But posthumous DNA testing debunked her claim, revealing no connection to the Royal family. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly uncover how decades of Soviet misinformation contributed to the conspiracy; reveal how Prince Philip himself became involved in debunking it; and consider a reboot of the animated version of her life… Further Reading: • ‘Did Anastasia Survive The Romanovs Massacre? The Real History Explained' (HistoryExtra, 2023): https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/did-anastasia-survive-massacre-romanovs-real-history-facts-conspiracy/ • ‘How Anna Anderson Became The Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia' (All That's Interesting, 2018): https://allthatsinteresting.com/anna-anderson • ‘Royal Runaway? Ultimate Fate of Duchess Anastasia REVEALED' (History, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYRMHKC9xMA We'll be back on Monday - unless you join CLUB RETROSPECTORS, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2026. This episode originally aired in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
United Artists, a new company formed by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith - four of the most powerful figures in early cinema - was announced on 5th February 1919. The movie trade press quickly labelled it a ‘rebellion' against the mainstream studios. Declaring their new enterprise would exist to “protect the industry from itself”, the Hollywood quartet took aim at an industry that depended on long contracts, vertical integration and strict talent control. They hoped to see a greater degree of creative autonomy and financial reward, but perhaps underestimated the difficulty of running a distribution company and the risks the studio system itself had absorbed. Existing contracts delayed releases, investors were wary, and the promise of artistic freedom collided with the realities of inconsistent output, experimental failure and changing technology, including the arrival of sound. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider UA's eerily prescient ambition to counter ‘machine-made entertainment'; discover how an experience selling war bonds helped inspire the idea for the studio; and explain why, despite their success, the studio still missed out on ‘Gone With The Wind'... Further Reading: • ‘United Artists: The studio that challenged and revolutionised Hollywood' (Far Out, 2021): https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/united-artists-studio-revolutionised-hollywood/ • ‘Artists Unite Against the Studios' (Celebrate California): https://celebratecalifornia.library.ca.gov/february-5-1919-artists-unite-against-the-studios-2/ • ‘Chaplin, Fairbanks, Pickford & Griffith Signing United Artists Contract' (1919): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEBZU_KHSM0 #Hollywood #1910s #Business #Film Love the show? Support us! Join
Disguised variously as a baseball umpire, NFL referee, pro golfer, and even Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, Barry Bremen earned his reputation as America's greatest pitch invader - a career that kicked off on 4th February, 1979. Dressed as a player for the Kansas City Kings, the 32 year-old insurance salesman crashed the court of an NBA All-Star basketball game - much to the delight of fellow players and spectators. Hey, it was the Seventies! In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly ask why top sportsmen of the day were so keen to support him; reveal how the media encouraged his efforts to become a sporting celebrity; and explain why his behaviour pushed the broadcasters of the 1985 Emmys to cut quickly to a puzzled David Hasselhoff… Further Reading: • ‘From Ali Dia to Karl Power: the greatest impostors in sporting history' (The Guardian, 2016): https://www.theguardian.com/sport/shortcuts/2016/oct/18/from-ali-dia-barry-bremen-greatest-fakers-in-sporting-history • 'When Barry Bremen Tried to Infiltrate the Dallas Cowgirls, the Team Found It a Drag' (People, 1980): https://people.com/archive/when-barry-bremen-tried-to-infiltrate-the-dallas-cowgirls-the-team-found-it-a-drag-vol-13-no-2/ • ‘The Great Imposter Barry Bremen' (NBC, 1979): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNjZni1yQ90 Love the show? Support us! Join
With a cast of over 800, and a budget equivalent to £3 million, James Shirley's extravagant masque ‘The Triumph of Peace' was performed on 3rd February, 1634. Unusually, it was such a popular show that, despite the enormous cost of staging it, King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria requested that it be repeated. Though replete with all the arse-kissing allegorical tableaux that typified these celebrations of the monarchy - and requisite set designs by Inigo Jones - this spectacular was also markedly different from its predecessors in that it was especially designed to appease Henrietta, who had been slurred by polemicist William Prynne. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly come to terms with the ‘17th century immersive theatre' experience; explain why legendary playwright Ben Jonson WASN'T involved in this one; and reveal how a masque was once responsible for the destruction of Shakespeare's Globe… Further Reading: • ‘Masque and music at the Stuart court' (Royal Museums Greenwich): https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/masque-music-stuart-court • ‘Inigo Jones designs for masque costumes' (The British Library): https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/inigo-jones-designs-for-masque-costumes • ‘The History of the British Masque' (Heidi Kobara, 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G22UED2yJ_Q Love the show? Support us! Join
Leonarde Keeler, inventor of the modern polygraph, first showcased his device in a courtroom on 2nd February, 1935. The wooden box, which measured physiological responses like blood pressure and respiration, took the stand alongside him, and, while Keeler emphasized the machine wasn't infallible, he later told journalists assembled outside the venue that his invention would soon revolutionise criminal justice. Keeler's innovations built upon earlier work by others, including Scottish cardiologist James McKenzie, who created a device to detect heart arrhythmias, and Dr. William Moulton Marston, who later linked blood pressure changes to emotional responses - and, inspired by his "truth-telling" research, would go on to create Wonder Woman. But Keeler's talent for self-promotion, using dramatic applications of his polygraph, made his name, and cemented the device's reputation as a “lie detector” (a term he never actually used). In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discover how the polygraph - now discredited as evidence in US courts - once put a Death Row inmate to the electric chair; reveal how Keeler's mentors gradually drifted away from the ‘monster' they had created; and explain how the men who invented the ‘truth machines' of the 20th century had an uncanny talent for meeting their wives at work… Further Reading: • 'Will Lie Detectors Ever Get Their Day in Court Again?' (Center for Law, Brain & Behavior, Harvard University, 2015): https://clbb.mgh.harvard.edu/will-lie-detectors-ever-get-their-day-in-court-again/ • ‘He Met His Wife Over a Lie Detector. Then Things Got Interesting' (PBS American Experience, 2022): https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/lie-detector-1000-words/ • ‘Neurologist Trashes "Lie Detector" Tests' (Dr. Brandon Beaber, 2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_08b7Y7DgI Love the show? Support us! Join
Revolutionary leader Oliver Cromwell was executed on 30th January, 1661 - despite having been dead for more than two years. His body was exhumed from its tomb in Westminster Abbey on the instruction of King Charles II, who sought retribution for those involved in the trial and execution of his father, Charles I. Along with other Regicides, Cromwell's corpse was disinterred and subjected to public abuse. On the anniversary of Charles I's beheading, Cromwell's head was mounted on a spike and stuck on the roof of Westminster Hall - where it remained for thirty years. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly track the illustrious history of Cromwell's head from that date forth; consider whether the crowd in attendance at the ‘execution' really hated their former Lord Protector as much as their jeering suggests; and explain how the intervention of a future Prime Minister prevented Cromwell's relic being put on public display as recently as the 19th Century… Further Reading: • ‘Oliver Cromwell: Hero or Villain?' (HistoryExtra, 2014) : https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/oliver-cromwell-hero-or-villain/ • ‘The Strange Saga of Oliver Cromwell's Head' (Mental Floss, 2019): https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/585591/oliver-cromwells-head-history • ‘Opening The Coffin Of Oliver Cromwell' (The Fortress, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR0_DE2zQgU We'll be back on Monday - unless you join CLUB RETROSPECTORS, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2026. This episode originally aired in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The BBC broadcast the first ever edition of Roy Plomley's ‘Desert Island Discs' - the world's longest-running interview programme - on 29th January, 1942. Opening, as the show still does, with Eric Coates's theme music ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon', the episode welcomed comedian Vic Oliver as the series' first ‘castaway'. Plomely would go on to present a further 1,785 editions of the show until his death in 1985. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider the metaphor of an abundant and sunlit desert island in the context of the horrors of the Blitz; discover how BBC censors ensured early episodes lacked the free-wheeling quality modern listeners expect; and reveal the most-chosen artists across the show's incredible archive… Further Reading: • ‘The History of Desert Island Discs' (BBC): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/59YrnYM0Tw8J7WJ0MGKVfh7/the-history-of-desert-island-discs • ‘Seven Decades of Desert Island Discs' (The New Yorker, 2012)' https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/seven-decades-of-desert-island-discs • ‘Kirsty Young introduces Desert Island Discs: 70 Years of Castaways' (Waterstones, 2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD7NwCAAAgM #40s #Celebrity #Arts Love the show? Support us! Join
Stud-and-tube bricks, which paved the way for Lego to become one of the most successful companies in Denmark, were patented on 28th January, 1958. But this family business had already been in existence for 26 years, mostly making wooden toys. It later emerged, however, that the plastic self-locking bricks that brought them so much success had in fact already been invented - and patented - by British toymaker Hillary Page in 1940. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how Lego's lawyers stay one step ahead of their imitators; unconvincingly demonstrate how to pronounce ‘Skoda'; and reveal how branded toys - a controversial pivot for the company in the ‘90s - helped save the business… Further Reading: • ‘LEGO Brick Timeline: 50 Years of Building Frenzy and Curiosities' (Gizmodo, 2008): https://gizmodo.com/lego-brick-timeline-50-years-of-building-frenzy-and-cu-349509 • ‘Self-Locking Building Bricks, Lego precursor, Kiddicraft (1944-)': https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Self-Locking_Building_Bricks_(Kiddicraft) • ‘60 years of LEGO: capturing the world's imagination' (5 News, 2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZTiAarAOqw Love the show? Support us! Join
The corpse of Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Soviet Union, was placed on display in Moscow's Red Square on 27th January, 1924 - where, astonishingly, he remains viewable to this day. He'd wanted to be buried next to his mother in Saint Petersburg, but after he suffered a series of strokes, the Soviet government instead secretly planned to build a mausoleum for his body, in part to deify him as a quasi-religious figure. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how pioneering embalming techniques were created by ‘The Lenin Lab' to look after the cadaver; ponder how mausoleum architect Alexey Shchusev contented with the January freeze; and consider whether an embalmed Queen Victoria would be just as popular a tourist attraction… Further Reading: • ‘Death of Lenin' (The Guardian, 1924): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/23/death-of-lenin-archive-1924 • ‘Lenin's Body Improves with Age' (Scientific American, 2015): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lenin-s-body-improves-with-age1/ • ‘Russia: 100 Years on from Revolution' (BBC News, 2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPmlX4kWgjs Love the show? Support us! Join
Schick and Nick are fresh off their Cathe. Apparently listeners were quite nervous about it. Beep beep beep? Nick spent a day with Dana Altman. Matt Hill is in Charlotte! Nebrasketball wins again. Kent Pavelka's family is growing. Fred Hoiberg uses salty language. Bobby Hurley sounds optimistic. A Mendoza mix-up. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo with a synchronized call. John Fanta yells at someone. Recapping the polls. Classic Dylan Raiola farewell poems. Ryan gets tased. Connect with us! SchickandNick.com Facebook, Twitter, or email We would hate it if you missed an episode! So PLEASE subscribe, rate the pod, and throw us a review. It helps us out so much! We'd likey that. This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or Hurrdat Media YouTube channel! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The U.S. Postal Service permitted parcel delivery for packages under 11 pounds in 1913 - parameters which were pushed to their limits on 26th January, 1913, when Ohio couple Jesse and Matilda Beagle set a bizarre precedent by mailing their baby, James, a mile up the road to his grandmother. As Parcel Fever swept the nation, other parents began to use the Postal Service as an affordable alternative to train tickets. Most famously 4-year-old Charlotte May Pierstoff was mailed 73 miles to her grandparents for 55 cents, inspiring a popular children's book. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly investigate the “self-mailing” antics of various adult eccentrics; reveal how the Postal Service had to intervene to terminate this troublesome trend; and highlight the demand and enthusiasm that initially greeted the great revolution of a rural postal service… Further Reading: • ‘When People Used the Postal Service to 'Mail' Their Children' (HISTORY, 2018): https://www.history.com/news/mailing-children-post-office • The strangest things sent in the post (BBC News, 2017): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42272052 • ‘How the Post Office Made America' (Wendover Productions, 2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu2WOxXxsHw Love the show? Support us! Join